The Queen's Abdication Plan: Charles' Wedding Decision

In the final episode of Netflix's The Crown, Queen Elizabeth contemplates abdication and announces her decision to her family at the wedding of King Charles and Queen Camilla. However, this is a fictionalised version of real events. In reality, Queen Elizabeth never thought about abdication. In 2003, she told the then-Archbishop of Canterbury that abdication is something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end. Royal historian Hugo Vickers explained in 2021 that one main reason why the Queen did not abdicate is that she is an anointed Queen, and anointed Queens do not abdicate.

Queen Elizabeth II never considered abdication

Royal historian Hugo Vickers affirmed this, explaining that one main reason why the Queen would not abdicate is that she is an anointed Queen, and anointed Queens do not abdicate. Additionally, the complexity of engineering an abdication and the powerful legacy of Queen Elizabeth II's unwavering dedication to her role also served as strong deterrents. While there were calls for her to abdicate in favour of Charles, as seen in a 1990 Sunday Times poll, the idea of her stepping down was always speculative.

The notion of Queen Elizabeth considering abdication at Charles' wedding is purely artistic license, as confirmed by guests at the wedding who recalled the Queen's affectionate and humorous speech about her son and his new wife. Furthermore, the idea that Queen Elizabeth would announce such a decision at a wedding reception is highly unlikely and inconsistent with royal protocol.

Instead, Queen Elizabeth proudly supported her son's enduring love for Camilla, wishing them well as they overcame various obstacles to be together. This sentiment was reflected in her lighthearted reference to horseracing in her wedding speech, where she likened their relationship to a horse jumping over obstacles and finally reaching the finish line.

The Crown's fictionalised version of events

In the final season of Netflix's "The Crown", the show depicts Queen Elizabeth contemplating abdication and announcing her decision to her family at the wedding of King Charles and Queen Camilla. In the show, Queen Elizabeth is seen preparing a draft of her speech, in which she intends to announce her retirement and abdication in favour of Charles. This fictionalised version of events adds drama to the show, as, in reality, Queen Elizabeth never considered abdication.

In the show, the poll's release date is changed to coincide with Charles and Diana's vacation to Italy, dubbed a "second honeymoon" by the press. The show portrays Charles as pressuring Prime Minister John Major to encourage the Queen to step down, which Major has denied ever occurred. These artistic licenses add to the Hollywood drama of the show.

While the show suggests that Diana still hoped to save her marriage before the Italy trip, in reality, she was already leaking tapes for a tell-all book. The Crown also showcases the public-facing scandals faced by the royal family, including Charles and Diana's split. The show hints at the end of the Queen's reign, with the weight of the crown becoming immense and the organisation of her funeral.

The Crown is a fictionalised drama series inspired by real events, and the creators emphasise the fictionalised aspect. While the show takes creative liberties, it also provides an insightful portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.

A 1990 poll suggested the Queen should abdicate

In the final episode of Netflix's "The Crown", Queen Elizabeth is depicted contemplating abdication and announcing her decision to her family at the wedding of King Charles and Queen Camilla. However, this is a fictionalised version of real events. In reality, Queen Elizabeth never thought about abdication. In 2003, she told George Carey, the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, that abdication is "something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end."

In January 1990, a poll was conducted by MORI (Market and Opinion Research International) and published in The Sunday Times. The poll found that 47% of the British population supported the Queen stepping aside for Charles "at some stage", not immediately as depicted in the show. The poll was largely positive about the royal family, with only 6% thinking that abolishing the monarchy would benefit Britain. Support for Queen Elizabeth II and her mother was high, with nine in ten respondents feeling favourably towards them.

The poll also found that the public was largely pro-monarchy, with 82% of respondents in favour of the British monarchy, 14% wanting it abolished, and the rest expressing no opinion. Despite this, 59% thought the Queen should "retire" early, allowing Charles to become king. This sentiment was likely influenced by the public's perception of Charles, who was widely supported due to his concern for the poor and homeless and his opposition to modern architecture.

While the poll did suggest that a significant portion of the British public favoured the Queen's abdication, it is important to note that this was not an urgent call for change. The results indicated a general approval of the monarchy and high support for the Queen and her mother. Additionally, the poll's release date was moved in the show to coincide with Charles and Diana's vacation to Italy, adding dramatic effect.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's abdication

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, announced her abdication on 31 December 2023. The 83-year-old queen, who ascended the throne in 1972, made the surprise announcement on live TV during her traditional New Year's Eve speech. She will step down on 14 January 2024, passing the throne to her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik.

Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate took her country by surprise, as it marked the first time a Danish monarch has stepped down voluntarily in nearly 900 years. The queen referred to a successful back operation she underwent in February, stating that "the surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation".

Queen Margrethe II was born in 1940 to Denmark's former monarch, King Frederik IX, and Queen Ingrid. She became heir to her father in 1953 at the age of 13, after a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne. In 1967, she married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, who served as her royal consort until his death in 2018. The couple had two sons: Crown Prince Frederik, who will become King Frederik X, and Prince Joachim.

The queen's decision to abdicate is a rare move in European royalty, although there have been some recent examples of monarchs choosing to step down in favour of the younger generation. For instance, in the Netherlands, it has become the norm for older monarchs to hand over the crown, with Queen Beatrix abdicating in 2013, following in the footsteps of her mother, Queen Juliana, and grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina.

Now, regarding the question of whether Queen Elizabeth was planning to abdicate at Charles' wedding, it appears that this is purely a fictional storyline from the popular Netflix series, "The Crown". In reality, Queen Elizabeth never considered abdication. In 2003, she told the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, that abdication is "something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end." Royal historian Hugo Vickers affirmed this, stating that one main reason why Queen Elizabeth would not abdicate is that she is an anointed queen, and such queens do not abdicate.

King Charles III's cancer diagnosis

There is no evidence that Queen Elizabeth was planning to abdicate at the wedding of her son, now King Charles III. In fact, it is reported that she never thought about abdication. In 2003, she told the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, that abdication is "something I can't do. I’m going to carry on to the end." Similarly, royal historian Hugo Vickers stated that the Queen would not abdicate because, unlike other European monarchs, she is an anointed Queen, and such queens do not abdicate.

Now, regarding King Charles III's cancer diagnosis, the monarch is currently undergoing treatment and his condition is said to be "moving in a positive direction." Here is a detailed timeline of his diagnosis and treatment:

January 2024: King Charles undergoes a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, also undergoes abdominal surgery, though initial tests do not indicate cancer.

February 5, 2024: Buckingham Palace announces that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis comes after his recent hospital procedure, during which a separate issue of concern was noted, leading to further diagnostic tests that identified a form of cancer. The type of cancer has not been disclosed, but it is known that it is not prostate cancer.

February 6, 2024: The King and Queen Camilla are photographed driving from Clarence House, their London residence, the day after the palace made the announcement about the King's health.

Late February 2024: King Charles resumes public duties as King in April after making progress in his treatment.

June 6, 2024: The King makes his first international engagement since his diagnosis, travelling to Normandy, France, with Queen Camilla, to attend a commemorative event on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

December 25, 2024: Buckingham Palace provides an update on the King's health, stating that his cancer treatment is "moving in a positive direction," and that his treatment cycle will continue into the next year.

It is worth noting that the King chose to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and to assist public understanding for those affected by cancer worldwide. He has been open about his health condition and has expressed his gratitude to his medical team for their swift intervention.

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